Search is on for missing Schroon Lake Teen

Cole Anauo, 15, of Schroon Lake, has been missing since Aug. 17. He was last seen by the Schroon Lake Airport off of Alder Meadow Road.

SCHROON LAKE — The search for missing 15-year-old Cole Anauo, headed by the Schroon Lake Fire Department, has been called off. Anauo has been classified a runaway.

Chief of the Schroon Lake Fire Department, Rodney Secor said they called off the search because police investigators kept getting conflicting stories. New York State Police continue to search for Anauo.

State Police and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Police are asking for the public’s assistance in trying to locate Anauo.

According to a prepared statement released by State Police, Anauo left his residence on Davis Road in Schroon Lake at around 7 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 17, and was last seen approximately five miles away on Alder Meadow Road on Sunday Aug. 18. He was last seen on foot.

Anauo, a Schroon Lake High School student, was last seen Saturday evening, Aug. 17, walking near the Schroon Lake Airport off Alder Meadow Road.

Anauo is approximately 5-foot 8-inches tall, with brown, wavy hair. He was last seen wearing a red Boston hat, yellow shirt, black shorts, and black Nike sneakers. According to the police press release, he was carrying camping equipment and backpacks.

Public Information Officer, Trooper Jennifer Fleishman, said Anauo was classified a runaway because of the nature of how he left. At this time, Fleishman said foul play is not believed to be a factor in the case.

Because of the case being listed as a run away, DEC involvement is limited. A DEC Forest Ranger was assisting the Schroon Lake Fire Department with organizing the search effort and DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement has a K-9 unit with an officer who was assisting in the search, according to NYS DEC spokeswoman Lori Severino.

Lisa DeZalia, district clerk and secretary to the superintendent of Schroon Lake Central School said she joined the search effort Sunday, Aug. 18, along with 60 to 70 other community members. The group combed the woods around the Schroon Lake Airport where Anauo was last seen.

DeZalia said word of the missing teen spread quickly through the small, tight-knit community by Saturday night.

“Everyone and their brother was out looking for him yesterday (Aug. 18),” DeZalia said. “His parents have been very worried.”

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Anyone with information is asked to call the New York State Police at 873-2750.